73-Year-Old Former Marine Charged With Multiple Murders Spanning Decades
In a remarkable turn of events that has reignited cold case investigations, Warren Luther Alexander, a 73-year-old ex-Marine electrician, finds himself at the center of serious allegations that trace back to crimes committed over four decades ago. Now, he’s facing charges for the murder of three women in Ventura County, California, back in 1977, on top of awaiting trial for another murder in North Carolina in 1992.
Currently incarcerated in North Carolina for the strangled demise of 29-year-old Nona Cobb, Alexander’s criminal charges have expanded across state lines. The Ventura County District Attorney, Erik Nasarenko, confirmed his extradition to California, where he is charged with the first-degree murder of Kimberly Fritz, 18; Velvet Sanchez, 31; and Lorraine Rodriguez, 21. The chilling similarity among the victims? All were strangled to death.
Nasarenko highlighted the possibility of further victims, given the geographical span and timeline of Alexander’s alleged activities. “This case is far from closed,” he stated, indicating a broader scope of investigation that may involve additional victims both within and beyond California.
A dive into Alexander’s past reveals a transient lifestyle that saw him residing in Ventura County during his school years in the 1950s and early 1960s, before returning in the 1970s. His career trajectory varied from Marine Corps service to cab driving, eventually becoming a long-haul trucker through the 1970s to the early 1990s. It was during these decades that the murders for which he’s now charged were committed.
The breakthrough in the case came about following Alexander’s 2022 arrest related to Cobb’s murder when DNA evidence linked him directly to the Ventura County killings. According to Nasarenko, a detailed review of the cold cases revealed striking “patterns and similarities” across the crimes, notably the fact that all three victims were sex workers known to frequent the Plaza Marina Shopping Center and its adjacent motels, and they were all strangled.
Determined efforts by investigators, spanning nearly half a century, finally bore fruit as they refused to let these cases go unresolved. “These murders may have occurred 47 years ago, but our commitment to seeking justice for these victims and their families never wavered,” Nasarenko remarked, praising the relentless pursuit of closure and justice.
The connection to Cobb’s murder in North Carolina was made through investigative genetic genealogy, a tool that has revolutionized cold case investigations. Following his identification as a suspect, Alexander was apprehended in Mississippi before being extradited to North Carolina. Given the older date of the California murders, North Carolina authorities consented to Alexander’s subsequent extradition to face charges there.
Now detained without bond in Ventura County jail, Alexander’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 21, where he will face the consequences of allegations that span a significant portion of his life. This case not only brings hope to the families of the victims but also stands as a testament to the advances in technology and forensic science, illustrating that justice, no matter how delayed, remains within reach.
